Keeping the Magic of Santa Alive

“There’s no such thing as Santa.” Those words burned in my ears and trickled down into my heart. I cried. I refused to believe what my neighborhood friend just told me. My 8-year-old heart couldn’t take the pain.

I yelled at her with tears rolling down my face, “there is a Santa!” Then, I ran home to tell my mom. I wanted so badly for my mom to tell me that what I just heard wasn’t true (that he did exist). Maybe she was taken off guard. Maybe she wasn’t prepared. Maybe she thought I was ready. But, she confirmed what my friend had told me that day.

I looked at her in disbelief. My life was changed forever. The magic of Santa was gone.

I ran to my room and decided, no matter what people told me, I was still going to believe.

Fast forward 22 years later, I’m now a mom of two little kids (a 3 year old and a 1 year old). So, of course they believe; and, I’m going to keep it that way as long as I can.

Why? I want them to be little as long as they can. I don’t want them to have to grow up too quickly. Taking away their imagination at such a young age takes away creativity. We need creativity. Great entrepreneurs need creativity to come up with innovative ways to start a new company. Artists need creativity to make masterpieces. Authors need creativity to write. And so on.

Yesterday, I heard a different view. He shared that we should tell the truth right away. That if we lie now about Santa, what else will our children think we’re lying about later. So, this made me think.

“Did I think my mom was a liar when she confirmed the truth that day?”

No. I didn’t decide that I was never going to believe anything she ever told me ever again. But, maybe that’s just me. Maybe I was able to understand why the tradition of Santa is shared. But, there’s that lingering thought, “What if my children don’t understand? Is there a way to say there is a Santa and not be lying?”

Yes, there is! I read a children’s book that keeps the magic alive without having to lie. There’s Certainly a Santa helps at that moment your 7-9 year old child comes running to you with tears asking if Santa is real.

Some of the story walks you through what to tell your child. It reveals the secret secret that we must all keep until others are ready (there’s even a fun contract to sign at the end). It reveals who Santa is and how Santa certainly exists. It keeps the magic of it all alive and going.

Maybe if my mom and the guy with the different view had a book like this, they would’ve been able to have their children experience the tradition a little longer.

It’s a great book. I’m definitely storing it to read to my children when they come running to me asking if what they heard is true.

My reply is going to be, “There’s certainly a Santa. Can you keep the secret secret?”